Churches Tourism Association

Walsingham, in Norfolk, England, has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times. The original Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, founded in 1061, was destroyed at the Reformation. In more recent times the Slipper Chapel, a 14th century wayside pilgrim chapel, was restored and pilgrimage to Walsingham began once more. In 1934, the English Bishops named the Slipper Chapel the Roman Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady. Since then many thousands of people have visited the Shrine, whether as pilgrims or for historical or more general interest.

Three ‘pilgrimage walks’ ending at Walsingham have been published by veteran walker John Merrill. These are described briefly in the website of the Long Distance Walkers Association, for example:

Walsingham Way - Ely to Walsingham 117 km / 73 miles from Ely (Cambs) to Walsingham (Norfolk) via the Fens to Brandon, Swaffham, and Rougham and to the finish at the Slipper Chapel, Walsingham.

Walsingham Way - London to Walsingham 253 km / 157 miles

See also the Anglican and Roman Catholic shrines of Our Lady of Walsingham.

For more of John Merrill’s Pilgrim’s Way Series, see his website here.